"I'll see you later," her words are accompanied by a hand on his arm.
He can do nothing to stop his hand from touching the swell of her stomach, "are you sure you should travel to London by yourself in your condition?"
She swallows the irritated sigh that threatens to escape. She loves him for his concern, but his tendency to want to wrap her in cotton sets her teeth on edge.
"Darling, I will be fine. It is only to pick up some new things for the nursery; I'll catch the one o'clock train back." Her words feathered across his ear as she kissed his cheek.
His hand moved to touch along her lower back, "Alright, see you this afternoon."
As he watched her walk away, a plan began to form.
She was tired, but blissfully so. Purchases had been made, delivery arrangements scheduled; the nursery was already well equipped, but she wanted new things that would belong to this child alone. Five more months until she got to meet this new person, who she already loved, she was absorbed with her own thoughts to the point she did not notice that someone had fallen in step with her.
"You look very wistful," the sound of his voice both pleased and startled her.
"Goodness, you nearly gave me a fright. What are you doing here?" her hand slipped onto his arm.
The quirk of his lips had her arching an eyebrow in question, "I thought I would surprise you with a picnic. I know shopping must have been exhausting, and thought this seemed like a nice way to spend the afternoon."
"It does sound lovely, did Pratt drive you or did you drive yourself?" she hoped for the latter.
"If I am going to steal my wife away for the afternoon, why on earth would I bring anyone else along?"
Without being aware of it, she had been led to the car. She took his offered hand and climbed in.
"That sounds rather cheeky, what do you have planned?" excitement hummed through her veins.
"That is for me to know, and you to find out. Give me a chance." A wink accompanied his words.
How long they drove was unclear to her, she was only aware of the sound of his voice as he talked and the feel of his hand on her thigh. The roads they took were unfamiliar to her, but she trusted him to know where they were going. They had long since passed any trees or fences, tall grass lined either side of the road. He stopped shortly after the next curve.
"Where are we?" she asked as she took his outstretched hand.
One armed wrapped around her back, "I found this place the other day; I thought you would enjoy it."
Hidden within the grass was a path, it could easily be missed but he knew it was there.
"How far does this go on?"
"Not far, we're almost there."
He was right, they only had to walk a little bit more and the sight that greeted her made her breath catch. The grass was shorter where they stopped, and before them was a lake shaded by trees. It seemed out of place, but then again it did not. They claimed a shady spot under one of the trees.
"That was a welcome surprise." She turned her head and allowed her lips to graze his jaw.
He leaned back against the tree, and tugged her back against him. His hands traced along her arms and stomach coming to rest atop hers.
His lips stirred the loose tendrils of her hair, "Not too much longer."
"I know. I'm ready to meet him, or her. What time is it?"
"About half past three. Why, do you have a date?" His features were schooled in seriousness, although his eyes gave away his teasing.
"I do as a matter of fact. I have a date with a very handsome fellow." Her brow rose, daring him to challenge her.
"Should I be worried?" his lips were closer to hers now, his breath fanning her face.
Her smile was soft, "terribly."
Their lips met, brushed, parted, and clung. His arms curled her closer. Her hand toyed with the hair at the nape of his neck, a bare brushing of fingers that had him shuddering against her. His hands traced down her spine, a gesture that was both comforting and arousing at the same time. There was something desperate in the meeting of their mouths, but both kept firm control, unwilling to break the gentleness of the moment. Neither noticed the dark clouds that were slowly filling the sky. The first few drops of water on their cheeks is what broke them a part.
"We need to go." His voice was rough as he helped her up.
They made fast work of repacking the basket and moving as quickly as possible back to the car. What had started as a light rain as they walked back was now a downpour that made it impossible to see anything.
"Do we try and wait it out, or attempt to drive?" her voice now held a bitter tone.
His own voice sounded similar, "we need to at least get back on the main road."
He drove carefully as the rain continued to pour, his hand occasionally reaching out to touch hers. They made it to the main road without any problems, and then the sound of a horrible hiss could be heard over the rain. He could feel something within the steering change, his eyes closed momentarily in resignation as the sound became familiar, and he had no choice but to pull the car to the side.
"What's the matter?" she asked, concern lacing her tone.
He pulled the collar of his coat up and prepared to step out, "give me a moment."
She watched him move around the back of the car, and then towards the front. He knelt down at the wheel on the driver's side. When he stood, she could see his lips move in a word she dare not repeat. He said nothing as he slid back inside the car, the hard set of his jaw spoke for him.
Her voice was hesitant, "well?"
"We have a flat." The words were ground out with irritation.
"Do we have a spare?" her hand touched his hair, now damp with water.
"We do, but it is too risky to try and change the tires now. Once the rain lets up I'll fix it." his hand reached out for hers.
Her fingers laced with his, "what do we do in the meantime?"
"We wait." He tugged her close and wrapped his arm around her.
She rested comfortably against him, her head on his shoulder and one hand along his leg. It felt so odd to be feel relaxed sitting alongside the road, she mused. She felt rather than heard his chuckle.
"What are you laughing at?"
"Just the fact that my plans have taken an unforeseen turn; interruptions always happen at the most in opportune times or it seems that way with us."
"Today was lovely, I'm glad you surprised me. As far as interruptions go, if you refer to your attempts at a marriage proposal I believe that was all you, darling."
He leaned down to whisper in her ear, "that was cruel and now you must be punished."
"Oh," their eyes met. "Just what did you have in mind?" she suddenly felt very warm.
His face was closer to hers now, and his eyes were burning with an intensity she now knew all too well.
"This," his lips brushed, "is what I had in mind."
His lips claimed hers, the tip of his tongue seeking entrance. She granted it. The desperation they had succeeded in controlling earlier was now demanding their full attention. Their mouths were a battle of teeth, tongue, and lips. His hands pulled her closer to him, as her own grasped his hair holding him against her. The swell of her stomach pressing against his side garnered a response she had not imagined, his kiss became more passionate, and she felt drugged by it all.
She needed to breathe, her lips tore from him as and teased a path down his neck; he would have a mark there tomorrow. Her fingers trailed from his hair down to his thighs, she heard his breath catch in anticipation. She let her palms rest on his legs, and every so often her fingers would tighten. He had to distract her, she was tormenting him. His hand traced along her side, coming to rest at the side of her breast, his thumb brushed over her and he heard her breath catch just as her fingers tensed on his leg. Her body arched towards him as he continued his teasing.
His mouth once again claimed hers; he swallowed her sighs with his kiss. She could feel heat pool low in her stomach, this was beyond wanting one another; it was a need. Her fingers moved higher along his inner thigh, just enough to get his attention. His grip on her firmed and trailed down towards the swell of her bottom, her fingers finally reached their destination. The confines of the car were past being enough. They had to stop or find release, for this was torture.
Pulling her mouth from his, "Charles, listen. The rain, it stopped and the sun is setting." Her words were broken as his teeth nipped her jaw, "Charles, did you hear me?"
He had to quit, the sound of her voice seemed so far away from the rushing in his ears. "What did you say?"
"Listen, the rain, it stopped." Her hands now soothed rather than excited.
"Should I…" his words trailed off.
"Change the tire, and then home. We are going straight to bed when we get home, I'm exhausted."
The meaning of her words gave him the power he needed to drag himself away from her.
"Do you think the family will believe that?" his smile almost undid her.
"Probably not, but then again, I could not care less." Her tone brooked no argument.
His lips touched hers once more and then she had to push him from her.
"Home." The sternness of her voice reminded him of what home meant, a night in bed claiming exhaustion. Oh yes they would be exhausted, he was sure of it.